Following the clash in the October 29 plenary session, the Socialist Party parliamentary group has moved to another phase of the political conflict in Parliament, seeking the exclusion of Sali Berisha for 10 days and the 60-day suspension of six other Democratic Party MPs from sessions and committees. The request has been submitted to the Secretariat for Procedures, Voting and Ethics.
What the majority is seeking
In the document addressed to Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi and the relevant Secretariat, Socialist MPs claim that the opposition obstructed the normal course of parliamentary proceedings from the outset by blocking the podium and creating tensions in the chamber.
According to the request, the harshest proposed measure is for Sali Berisha, against whom a 10-day exclusion from parliamentary proceedings is being sought. For six other opposition MPs, the majority is seeking a 60-day exclusion from participation in committees and plenary sessions.
Accusations against Berisha
The version presented by the Socialist Party links the request against Berisha to the language he used during his speech in Parliament. The document claims that he used unparliamentary language and language inciting violence.
In the session, Berisha is quoted as saying that the rubber bullets and tear gas used during protests should be directed at Socialist MPs. The majority considers this a violation of the MP Code of Conduct and the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
What is attributed to the other opposition MPs
The clash was not limited to speeches alone. According to the submitted document, during the vote on items on the agenda, MPs Bledion Nallbati, Ivi Kaso, Blendi Himçi and Xhelal Mziu used pyrotechnic substances or devices.
According to the same request, Blendi Himçi, Albana Vokshi and Klodiana Çapja are accused of throwing hard objects toward the presiding officer of the session and members of the Council of Ministers. The document also mentions the blocking of the podium, continuous noise and the use of blowing devices by other opposition MPs.
Regulatory basis and political backdrop
The request is based on Articles 63 and 65/1 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, as well as Article 6 of the MP Code of Conduct. On this basis, the Socialist Party is seeking to turn the political clash in the session into a formal disciplinary sanction.
At this stage, this is a request by the majority and not a decision that has been made. However, the episode once again shows that Parliament is operating amid a continuing political crisis, where parliamentary debate is often replaced by blockages, accusations and exclusions.
It remains to be seen whether the Secretariat for Procedures, Voting and Ethics will accept these measures in full, or whether the clash will produce another round of sanctions and counter-accusations between the sides.
For the moment, the document submitted by the Socialist Party provides only the majority’s version of the event and of the degree of responsibility for the chaos in the session.